After the killing of a Hezbollah leader, the terrorist organization launched a rocket campaign against Northern Israel that was met with the largest air attack by Israel against Lebanon since 2006. The war in Gaza is pressing on, with still no signs of an end as efforts to broker cease-fire deals failed. Following the massive air assault on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon, Israel also began an expanded West Bank operation, claiming “this is a war for everything.”
Israelis unleash deadly assault on West Bank: ‘This is a war for everything’
excerpt from USA Today
The Israeli military conducted a massive operation in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, killing at least nine people in a string of fierce gun battles across Jenin and other major cities as tensions heightened in a war that already has laid to waste most of Gaza.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday called on Israel to consider temporarily relocating Palestinians in Jenin and elsewhere during a major anti-terror raid. The Israeli military said it is allowing residents who wish to flee the combat zones to safely leave.
Israel is ramping up its efforts in the West Bank while continuing operations in Gaza, clashing with Iran-backed Hezbollah on its northern border with Lebanon at the same time commercial ships − some with Israeli ties − are threatened by Iran-backed, Yemen-based Houthi militants.
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Excerpt from www.rt.com
Netanyahu says won’t accept proposal ending Gaza war
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out accepting a ceasefire proposal that includes ending the war in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday.
The report comes after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the Israeli leader on Monday to discuss efforts to reduce tensions and reach an agreement on a ceasefire and release of hostages. Blinken claimed that Netanyahu had accepted the US ceasefire proposal.
The White House later claimed that significant progress had been made during the latest round of talks involving officials from Israel, Qatar, the US, and Egypt in the Qatari capital of Doha last week. Hamas skipped the negotiations, citing the absence of a clear plan.
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Excerpt from Washington Post
Iran signals promised strike on Israel may not be imminent
Iranian officials are signaling this week that an attack against Israel may not be imminent, tamping down some of the more urgent rhetoric around threats to avenge Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed last month in a blast at his guesthouse in Tehran.
Iran had warned early on of a “devastating” reprisal to “punish” Israel for the assassination — but it later adjusted its language, and, in a statement Wednesday, the Iranian mission to the United Nations reinforced the government’s position that any response “must be carefully calibrated” to avoid affecting a potential cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.
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Excerpt from The Indian Press
US Secretary of State Blinken urges Hamas to accept US proposal to end Gaza war
On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Hamas to accept a US proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza. This appeal came after a “very constructive” meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.
Blinken emphasized that the latest effort to secure an agreement might be the best and possibly last opportunity for both sides.
The negotiations, which had stalled last week in Qatar, are expected to resume with the US proposal aimed at bridging the gaps between Israel and Hamas.
Despite Blinken’s optimism, tensions remain high. Hamas announced the resumption of suicide bombings in Israel after many years, and Israeli military strikes killed at least 30 Palestinians in Gaza on Monday.
“In a very constructive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu today, he confirmed to me that Israel accepts the bridging proposal – that he supports it,” Blinken stated. “It’s now incumbent on Hamas to do the same.”
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Excerpt from Haaretz
Hamas: New U.S. proposal accommodates Netanyahu’s demands, prevents deal
Vice President Kamala Harris, asked outside a campaign event in Pennsylvania whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is prepared to agree to a ceasefire, said that the U.S. is not giving up.
“I will not speak for him, but I will tell you these conversations are ongoing, and we’re not giving up. We’re going to continue to work very hard on this. We’ve got to get a cease-fire and we’ve got to get those hostages out,” Harris said.
U.S. President Joe Biden, when asked about the status of cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas after landing at Joint Base Andrews on Sunday, said “It’s still underway, we’re not giving up, [it’s] still possible.”
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Excerpt from Hindustan Times
Turkey Tells Iran To Bring USA, Israel To ‘Knees’? Erdogan Abandons NATO After Invasion Threat?
NATO Nation Turkey made explosive remarks against the U.S. and Israel. Turkey’s ambassador to Iran, Hicabi Kırlangıç, asserted that Ankara will not dictate Iran’s response to Israeli actions, suggesting that “aggressor countries” like Israel and the U.S. should be “brought to their knees.” Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan also condemned U.S. support for Israeli actions. Watch for more.
